G6 coupe is roomy addition to the stylish XPeng family

Chinese car company XPeng arrived in Ireland early last year with its first model, the ‘ultra smart’ all-electric G6 mid-sized coupe SUV, which is quite similar in size to its main rival, Tesla’s Model Y. The exterior features a coupe-style silhouette, contoured bodywork, a forward-sloping bonnet, frameless windows, and a rear slope to the roof. Full-width taillights make the car appear wider and glow beautifully at night, with a rear design reminiscent of the Porsche Macan coupe. All models sit on 20-inch alloys.

This is a fairly long vehicle with a 2890mm wheelbase, offering ample interior space for five adults. The cabin exudes a premium feel, with high-quality materials, soft-touch coverings, a minimalist dashboard, and a centre console. The winter-white faux leather upholstery enhances the spaciousness of the interior. Front seats are heated and ventilated, with multiple adjustments including a memory function for the driver’s seat. A large panoramic glass roof lets in more light.

The infotainment system operates on the latest XPeng Smart OS, and there are no physical buttons on the dashboard. Most functions are accessed via the 15.6-inch touchscreen, including adjusting the side mirrors, climate control, vehicle settings, drive modes (Eco, Sport, Individual), the 360-degree camera, fixing the tailgate height, and adjusting and saving driver seat and lumbar support settings. You can also control seat heating and massage functions. Navigating the menus proved somewhat time-consuming and confusing, as they’re not very intuitive, so I used the Voice Assistant by saying ‘Hey XPeng’ for key shortcuts.

The two-tone steering wheel can be heated in cold weather. A customisable 10-inch digital display for the driver provides essential driving information in a minimalist format. However, in bright sunlight, I found it difficult to see my current speed, displayed in small black figures at the top of the cluster. There was no Head Up Display.

The vehicle has four USB ports, a 12V power socket, and two wireless charging pads for smartphones. It lacks a glove box, but the large open area beneath the floating central console more than compensates, capable of holding a bag and an iPad. There’s a spacious compartment below the front armrest, sizable front door bins, and smaller ones at the rear. Rear passengers benefit from class-leading leg and headroom, as the panoramic roof does not intrude on headspace. Rear seats are heated, with two USB-C ports, pockets on the back of the front seats, and a fold-down middle armrest with two cupholders. The rear floor is flat.

The power-operated boot offers 571 litres of luggage space, expandable to 1,374 litres with rear seats folded, with a small storage area beneath the floor. There is no front 'frunk’.

Standard and Long Range versions are powered by a single rear-mounted electric motor with an estimated range of 435km, while both the Long Range and AWD Performance models, equipped with larger 80.8 kWh batteries, claim a range of 570 km. I found this figure to be quite accurate.

My test car was the Performance AWD variant, with an impressive torque of 660Nm, achieving a spirited 0-100km/h acceleration time of 4.13 seconds. The additional electric front wheel motor raises total output to 476hp. During my week with the car, I averaged 16.5 kWh/100 km. A standard heat pump helps extend driving range in cold winter conditions.

Blind spot detection is well implemented on the driver’s screen and side mirrors, part of the XPILOT driver assist system, which includes Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Departure Warning. Parking aid features are excellent, including the Surrounding Video System providing a 360-degree view. Additional safety features include forward collision warning, door open alert, and rear collision warning with rear cross-traffic alert. The large windscreen offers great visibility forward, though the narrow rear window limits rearward view.

The ride is quite firm, with very light steering. An irritating feature is the Acoustic Vehicle Alert System (AVAS), which emits artificial sounds to alert pedestrians or cyclists about the approaching silent electric vehicle. It activates at speeds up to 30 km/h and even when slowing at roundabouts, which can be intrusive inside the cabin and cannot be turned off.

A rear tow hook is available as an optional extra on all models. XPeng can tow up to 1,500kg.

In Ireland, the brand is distributed by Motor Distributors Limited (MDL) on the Naas Road in Dublin.

The entry-level Standard model starts at €42,000, the Long Range at €49,440, and the Performance AWD from €54,500. Prices include VRT relief and the SEAI grant but exclude dealer delivery charges.